“Well, the time has come. I’ve decided that our 41st season, which begins in September, will be my last,” Sajak said at the time. “It’s been a wonderful ride, and I’ll have more to say in the coming months. Many thanks to you all.”
Sajak, who has had a four-decade run on the show, took over hosting duties in 1981 when the show aired on network daytime television. He was joined a year later by Vanna White. In 1983, the nighttime version of the show was launched and became one of the top-rated syndicated TV programs.
Who’s taking over for Pat Sajak on ‘Wheel of Fortune’?
White will continue to co-host one of the most popular game shows in television history, and Ryan Seacrest will take over for Sajak. Seacrest will also remain the host of “American Idol.”
White, the show’s puzzle board handler, is in until the 2025-2026 season, with a reported contract extension through that time.
“I think she’s a good replacement if I can’t be there for some reason,” White told E! News last year. “She’s been around it her whole life, so I think she can fill in for me for sure.”
Pat Sajak’s final ‘Wheel of Fortune’ episodes
Sajak’s last “Wheel of Fortune” show will air June 7. It will cap a week of shows themed “Thanks for the Memories” in honor of the 77-year-old.
The show’s producers have collected some of Sajak’s funniest moments for those final episodes.
What will Pat Sajak do after ‘Wheel of Fortune’
After leaving “Wheel of Fortune,” Sajak will reportedly continue his work as chairman of the Board of Trustees for Hillsdale College in Michigan.